Effects of Corrective Exercises Training for Improving Neuropathic Pain and Function in Knee Osteoarthritis

Objectives: To find out the effects of corrective exercise training for improving neuropathic pain and function in knee OA patients. Material & Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study. It was conducted at horizon hospital Johar Town Lahore. The study was completed in six months. Consecutive sampling technique was used to collect the data. The sample size of 16 patients was taken in this study to find out the effects of corrective exercises training for improving neuropathic pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. For descriptive analysis we used frequency, percentages and charts. For quantitative measure, repeated measured ANOVA was used. Results: The mean age of patients was 71.56 years plus or minus 4.55 years. There were 7(43.8 percentage) males and 9(57.2 percentage) females participated in this study. The mean and standard deviation of numeric pain rating scale at baseline, at week 4 and at post treatment were, 4.31 plus or minus 0.71, 3.31 plus or minus 0.70 and 2.44 plus or minus 0.73 (p=0.0001) respectively. The mean and standard deviation of DN4-questionnaire at baseline, at week 4 and at post treatment were, 6.38 plus or minus 1.67, 4.06 plus or minus 1.29 and 1.81 plus or minus 1.33 (p=0.0001) respectively. The mean and standard deviation of WOMAC scale at baseline, at week 4 and at post treatment were, 58.13 plus or minus 9.37, 48.75 plus or minus 7.81 and 39.25 plus or minus 7.90 (p=0.0001) respectively. Conclusion: Corrective exercises significantly reduced knee osteoarthritis neuropathic pain and improved functional capacity. The corrective exercises appear to be a safe and effective treatment for neuropathic knee pain.